A Blast From the Past

Craig Richardson at KRCC Radio recently posted these old documentaries (thanks to the Pikes Peak Library District) created by Spencer Penrose in 1936. Both Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun are featured. A LOT has changed at our zoo over the decades, but it’s interesting to take a look at where it all began.

You can read more about the history of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo here.

Curious Colorado, ca. 1936
By Craig Richardson, KRCC Radio
In 1936, Colorado Springs mega-man Spencer Penrose produced an advertorial documentary film titled Curious Colorado. The film showcases the various Penrose-owned properties and attractions of the Pikes Peak region, including the Cheyenne Mountain Auto Highway & Lodge, The Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, The Mt. Manitou Scenic Incline and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Gardens, complete with cigar-smoking chimpanzees.

Special thanks to the Pikes Peak Library District for making these wonderful videos available.